Abstract

Although considerable research has been conducted on playing active video games (AVGs), the majority has focused on proximal play. Little has been reported on distance-based AVG play, identified in this paper as virtual online active games (VOAGs). The potential benefits of VOAGs lies in their ability to connect similar and different populations, genders and generations over the Internet for a new type of gaming in which family, friends, and new acquaintances can participate physically, emotionally, cognitively, and socially when they are at a distance. This paper endeavors to review recent AVG and VOAG literature and illuminate the outcomes associated with playing AVGs and VOAGs to provide suggestions for future research on VOAG. The extension and expansion of what is known about AVGs and VOAGs into probable paths for VOAG research can help to determine if VOAGs are a viable intervention when distance separates participants.

Keywords: Exergames; Intergenerational; Distance play; Divergent populations; Video games